Join us as we celebrate and learn about the important contributions made by women throughout history and today.
March is Women’s History Month. Started in 1978 as a week-long celebration in California, Women’s History Month has developed into a nationwide, month-long recognition of women’s historic and contemporary contributions to society. Today, we continue this tradition by expanding our understanding of the key role women have played in shaping the culture of the United States and beyond.
Continue below to learn about diverse contributions by women to history, politics, science, art, and more with resources for all ages.
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Women’s History & Contributions: Now and Then
UNC-TV’s GIRL Power! collection
Grades K-5
UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina’s GIRL Power! is shining a light on girls of ALL ages who lead, mentor, inspire and impact those around them by tapping into their unique strengths. Check out this collection of their stories!
WPSU Women in Science Profiles
Grades 6-12
Women In Science Profiles is an innovative project from WPSU Penn State aimed at inspiring young women to enter careers in the captivating fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Learn about women in diverse STEM careers through a series of short video profiles and Q&A sessions where they answer student and community member questions live.
Trailblazer Bio Cards: Social Studies
Grades 6-12
Use this media gallery and support materials to celebrate extraordinary trailblazing women, past and present, including activist Mary Church Terrell, suffragette Alice Paul, political organizer Nse Ufot, and more with your students.
Rebel Girls collection
Grades 9-12
Rebel Girls from History celebrates Women’s History Month by focusing on the amazing, mostly forgotten women from the late 19th and early 20th century whose lives, actions, and sacrifices helped shape today’s America. They are educators, organizers, fighters, adventurers, and so much more.
Famous Feminists, Leaders & Visionaries
Mary Shelley Reader | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
Grades K-2
Print and fold this 2-page biosketch about Mary Shelley into a booklet! Learn about how Mary Shelley wrote the timeless horror story, Frankenstein, at only 18 years old and defined a literary genre, bringing global readers’ imaginations to life!
Carrie Barbour: One of America’s First Women Paleontologists | Iconic Nebraska
Grades 3-5
Meet Carrie Barbour, one of North America’s first woman paleontologists. Carrie Barbour was the assistant curator of paleontology at the University of Nebraska and helped to uncover more than twenty thousand fossil samples through Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Learn more about Carrie Barbour and her impact on Nebraska history.
How Women in the Midwest Saved Baseball | The Look Back
Grades 3-8
Show students how World War II led to the first pro women’s baseball league in the U.S. Explore the teams, players, and the league’s groundbreaking role in advancing women’s sports.
Women’s Contributions to the American Revolution
Grades 6-12
Invite students to explore how women shaped and experienced the American Revolution! Examine primary sources and media clips to see how figures like Abigail Adams supported the war while advocating for women’s rights.
Hatshepsut: Pharaoh of Egypt
Grades 6-12
Learn about the reign of Hatshepsut, one of only six women in history to be crowned as pharaoh, in this Hidden Voices video. Using the video, discussion questions and teaching tips, examine the role of women in ancient Egypt and compare/contrast that information with the role of women in other ancient civilizations and in United States history.
Activities, Books & More
Children’s Books About Amazing Women
Grades PreK-3
Have you ever thought that one person can change an entire country and save hundreds of lives? Celebrate some of the amazing women who have affected more lives than they could have imagined, all on the pages of these books for kids aged 2-8!
How to Raise Strong Girls
Grades PreK-4
When girls get the message that they have the ability to work through difficulty and learn new things, they stop giving up and start finding their way through their struggles. Try, “I’m working on this” to help your daughter remember that learning takes time.
Hero Maker Game | Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
Grades K-2
Visit the wall of historical heroes and learn more about each hero, including some amazing women from history like Mary Shelley, Beulah Louise Henry, Sacagawea and more! You can make your own hero with an avatar creator, give your hero a name, and make a motivational poster that will be displayed upon the wall of heroes.
Think Like a Historian | Unladylike2020
Grades 6-12
In this interactive lesson, students will use Unladylike2020 digital shorts to learn about women of the Progressive Era and search for and examine primary source material. Students will then craft a historical argument using a primary source to argue what learning about a specific Unladylike2020 woman adds to their understanding of the Progressive Era in U.S. History.